Half Chaps

A

Andrea E.

Active Member
Joined
16 March 2017
Messages
32
Visit site
Hi all,

I wondered if you fellow chaps could help me.

I have just got back into riding and I was after some halfchaps to go with my boots. Being on a budget, I headed to ebay an managed to bag a bargain of new Ariat chaps for less than half the price. But there was, naturally, an issue. When I took my mesurements they came up in the middle og S and M, the eBay bargain was S so I took a leap of faith in the hope that, in the case of them being snug, they would streatch.

They have just arrived and I think its safe to say that "snug" is a bit of an understatement. I can zip them up, just, but as I have not worn chaps before I am not sure on how much they will give. I have walked around the house for a few hours and they do feel a little better but they are still very tight.

Do any of you know how much give these have got or should I admit defeat and fork out for the size up?

Many thanks,
Andrea
 
Andrea E. said:
Hi all,

I wondered if you fellow chaps could help me.

I have just got back into riding and I was after some halfchaps to go with my boots. Being on a budget, I headed to ebay an managed to bag a bargain of new Ariat chaps for less than half the price. But there was, naturally, an issue. When I took my mesurements they came up in the middle og S and M, the eBay bargain was S so I took a leap of faith in the hope that, in the case of them being snug, they would streatch.

They have just arrived and I think its safe to say that "snug" is a bit of an understatement. I can zip them up, just, but as I have not worn chaps before I am not sure on how much they will give. I have walked around the house for a few hours and they do feel a little better but they are still very tight.

Do any of you know how much give these have got or should I admit defeat and fork out for the size up?

Many thanks,
Andrea
Click to expand...

I find Ariats are always tight to start with. They stretch a bit over time.
 
If you can zip them up they will give. I have a pair of Ariat boots and it took a couple of weeks of wearing them for an hour or two round the house until they were comfortable enough to ride in.
 
I'm in a similar situation, my half chaps are Dublin (nice and cheap) but the medium was too big- I could easily fit four fingers in when they were done up, but small is a little on the tight side.
I rode in them for the first time last week and was in pain afterwards. When I stripped off the backs of my knees were red with pressure sores.
I've been wearing them around the house too, to try and stretch them and wear them in.
 
Durhamchance said:
I'm in a similar situation, my half chaps are Dublin (nice and cheap) but the medium was too big- I could easily fit four fingers in when they were done up, but small is a little on the tight side.
I rode in them for the first time last week and was in pain afterwards. When I stripped off the backs of my knees were red with pressure sores.
I've been wearing them around the house too, to try and stretch them and wear them in.
Click to expand...

This is what worries me aswell, I have my first lesson in 6 years next month and am worried this may ruin the experience... I hope your's get better too, sounds painful :(
 
Last edited:
Put your chaps on in the house and blow your hairdryer on them on high heat until the leather heats up and starts to give. Bend and stretch your legs while the chaps/leather is still warm. Do this a few times and the leather will eventually "give".
 
Andrea E. said:
This is what worries me aswell, I have my first lesson in 6 years next month and am worried this may ruin the experience... I hope your's get better too, sounds painful :(
Click to expand...

It took a couple of days to get better, but I can't say I noticed while riding. I only felt it after dismounting. It was the pain in my bum and inner thighs that took my attention :D
 
Being short in the leg is a problem for me ..I have bought a few pairs of chaps on fleabay and have managed to shorten them, obviously had to buy new shorter zips bat are now great. It would be a very easy job to take them in too if they are a bit wide
 
I'd wear them round the house with some extra thick socks to help the stretching process. That's if it's possible to do them up!

New Ariats should give quite a bit, so do your suffering at home and you should be ok for your lesson.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top